Mecca’s Kaaba shines bright from space, NASA astronaut shares stunning picture
Riyadh: NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who recently returned from the International Space Station (ISS), has shared a stunning image of Islam's holiest site, Mecca’s Kabba, from space, which appears illuminated like bright light even from 400 kilometers above the Earth.
Posting the image on X (formerly Twitter), Pettit wrote, "Orbital views of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The bright spot in the center is the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, visible even from space.”
Orbital views of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The bright spot in the center is the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, visible even from space. pic.twitter.com/yLSOnboOZC
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) December 1, 2025
Noted for his artistic space photography on his fourth ISS mission between September 2024 and April 2025, Pettit shot the scene from the station’s cupola window using a high-resolution Nikon camera.
The photo captures Mecca’s dense urban landscape set amid rugged valleys, along with the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) at its center.
The Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure in black kiswah, stands out under constant floodlighting, its surface reflecting both sunlight and artificial light toward orbit, creating a striking light amid the surrounding hills and pilgrimage tents.
According to a report by India Today, from the ISS, cities such as Mecca appear as bright patches at night, their glow created by light pollution from millions of LEDs and sodium lamps that scatter through the atmosphere and remain visible to the station’s sensitive cameras.
The Kaaba stands out because the Grand Mosque is illuminated round the clock for prayer and Hajj pilgrims, a visibility further enhanced by the ISS’s 28,000 km/h orbital speed, which enables rapid captures during each pass over the Arabian Peninsula.
The post has captivated social media users across the world.
User @PaternalPath, wrote, “That’s a breathtaking sight. Really something else.”
Another wrote, “Beautiful. All religions should be respected, same for their sacred spots. I have a huge respect for The Saudis, the Arab people and all the Muslims around the world. May God bless and unite the Abrahamic faith, because we came from the same source. Let there be light. Amen.”
“From orbit, the Kaaba's glow hits different—like Earth's own eternal nightlight for the soul. Divine flex!,” remarked another.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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